Chamber offers business growth aid

The National City Chamber of Commerce wants your business to grow through a new program.

An Elevate My Business Challenge will follow the four-session program called Business Growth Accelerator Program.

The challenge is aimed at helping already successful businesses grow rapidly and manage that growth effectively.

“The idea behind the program is when you look at the landscape of all minority, veteran, women, multi-business owners there are far few in between that have the tools to take their business to the next level,” said Jacqueline Reynoso, president of the National City Chamber of Commerce.

A top winner of the competition will receive a $3,000 cash prize with second and third place finishers receive $1,250 and $750 respectively. Four sessions will be held at National University’s South Bay campus at 660 Bay Blvd.

Session one is Oct.5 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; session two is Oct. 19 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Session three is on Nov.2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. session four Nov. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. The fifth session is the competition, which will be held Nov.30 from 4 to 7 p.m. adjacent to Pepper Park in the National City Aquatic Center.
Reynoso said the program is similar to the ones used in universities such as Harvard and Stanford.

Elevate my business challenge is  program that will help participants analyze their business strengths, challenges and opportunities, growth trends and marketing tools in their particular industries; the leadership and internal management strategies to manage rapid growth successfully; and the ways to sharpen their message to gain new customers, partners or supporters.

Businesses from all over the county are invited to participate, not just National City businesses.

The introductory program is only open to businesses with current annual salary of $100,000 or more and will cumulate with a boot camp type pitch competition for shares in the $5,000 prize money. Reynoso said the reason why businesses with $100,000 or more are invited is because they are well positioned for growth and acceleration.
Reynoso said the program is designed to help not only grow businesses but to help the economy.

“As a result of this, we are helping to create additional jobs because they are growing and expanding and will lead to the hiring of new employees,” she said. “And that we are also diversifying the types of businesses that are accessing institutional capital. As their business grows so does our local economy.”

Interested businesses may enroll in the program at the National City Chamber’s website:www.ncc5kembchallenge.liftde.org